Collapsible shelf structure



July 26, 1960 A. A. RIZZUTO 2,946,459

COLLAPSIBLE SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 19, 1959 INVENTOR.

WWW

COLLAPSIBLE SHELF STRUCTURE Angelo A. Riz'zuto, Box 325, General Post Office,

New York, NY.

Filed Feb. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 794,470

'3 Claims. (Cl. 211-93) .This invention relates to shelf structures and more particularly to the type of shelf structure that is collapsible or foldable into a compact unit, and this application discloses a device similar to a copending application, Serial No. 661,644, filed May 27, 1957.

An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible shelf structure which can be easily attached, permanently or temporarily, to a rigid vertical surface such as a wall, or to rigid parallel uprights, and used for any general purpose.

Another object is to provide a shelf structure which can be easily and quickly collapsed or folded into a compact form and which requires a relatively small amount of space when not in use.

A further object is to provide a collapsible shelf structure which is simple in construction and which can be transferred from one location to another without the necessity of altering the shelf structure or providing more than simple hooks or screws as attaching means.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the shelf structure in a position erected and extended for use.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the shelf structure illustrating the manner in which the structure is collapsed or folded into a simple, compact unit.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the simple locking means employed to maintain the erected foldable frame of the shelf structure in a rigid position and showing the locking means in an open inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3 showing the locking means in a closed or locking position.

The shelf structure illustrated in the drawing can be permanently attached to a wall, for example, without the need for a separate supporting means such as the rectangular frame I seen in Fig. 1. However, the frame I, constituting the preferred supporting means having slotted attachments 14 or perforated attachments 15 or both, permits the use of one shelf at various locations and requires only simple fastening means such as hooks or screws. Frame I has the side vertical members 18 and the upper and lower horizontal members 18a and 18b.

The principal elements of the shelf structure proper consists of a pair of similar auxiliary frames, namely, an upper frame II and a lower frame III, and a foldable shelf 4. The frames H and III, which have the vertical side members .19 and 20 respectively, are hingedly connected and superimposed one upon the other to form a single frame which, in an erected and upright position as seen in Fig. 1, is supported by a pair of abbreviated arms 9. The lower frame III is pivotally attached with the pins or screws 16 to the arms 9 which, in turn, are pivotally attached with the pins 17 to the vertical portions 18 of the frame I. In a horizontally extended position the arms 9 are supported by brackets 6 each having a longitudinal slot 21 with a laterally-formed notch 22 at the extremity thereof. The brackets 6 are pivotally connited States Patent 2,946,459 Patented July 26, 1960 9, the lugs 5 being accommodated in the said notches.

A latch consisting of the elements X, -XI and XII, in opposed relation to the hinges 23 connecting the frames II and III, maintains the vertically aligned frames II and III in a rigid position when the shelf structure is in use and consists of an M-shaped lug 11 attached to the lower horizontal portion of the frame II, a T-shaped lug 12 attached to the upper horizontal portion of the frame III, and an inverted U-shaped catch 10 which is slidably disposed within the M-shaped lug 11. The catch 10 is provided with a head 24 for manipulation thereof and with feet 31} extended laterally to prevent a disengagement of the catch 10 from the lug 11, when the catch is in an elevated and inoperative position, as seen in Fig. 3.

In a locking and operative position, as seen in Fig. 4, the legs 31 and 32 of the catch 1% engage the lug 12 by extending on each side of its central leg 33 and under its head 34 and thereby preventing a folding or collapsing of the hingedly connected frames II and III.

The shelf 4 is pivotally attached to the vertical portions of the upper frame II but could of course be hingedly attached to the horizontal portion of the frame II if preferred. In a horizontally extended position, as seen in Fig. l, the shelf 4 is supported by the same type of bracket 6 already described. The lugs 5 which are engaged by the brackets 6 are attached at each end of the shelf 4, and the brackets 6 are pivotally attached to the vertical portions 19 of the frame II. If desired or required, a similar or identical shelf could be attached to the lower frame III as an auxiliary member of the shelf structure.

-A pair of hooked bars 7 are pivotally attached by means of the pins or screws 25 to the upper horizontal portion 26 of the frame II and engage lugs or screws 8 on the upper horizontal portion 27 of the principal frame I and thereby maintain the rigid frame structure formed by frames II and III in an erect and upright position, as seen in Fig. l.

The folding or collapsing of the shelf structure is accomplished systematically and expeditiously by lowering the shelf 4, unlocking and unhooking the frames II and III and folding them as illustrated in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the folded double frame to swing to a pendent position from the arms 9. The shelf 4 is folded by disengaging the brackets 6 from the lugs 5 thereby permitting the lugs to slide within the slots of the brackets simultaneously with the folding of the shelf, the brackets 6, like the shelf '4, swinging to a vertical position within the frame II. The frames II and III are unlocked by disengaging the catch 10 from the lug 12 and are unhooked by disengaging the bars 7 from the lugs 8. If desired or required, the pendent double frame may be lowered to a position at the base of the principal frame I by disengaging the brackets 6 from the lugs 5 attached to the arms 9 thereby permitting the double frame to swing to a lower pendent position.

The invention described and illustrated herein is clearly capable of numerous modifications and it should be understood therefore that changes in the form and structural details of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A latch to maintain two members hinged together at their edges in an extended relation, said latch comprising a first M-shaped lug fixed to one member with the legs of said first lug forming two channels adjacent to said member, a second T-shaped lug fixed by its leg to the other member, a U-shaped catch with both legs of said catch extending slidably through the channels in said first lug so that said catch may be moved to extend the legs of said catch on either side of the leg of said second lug, and feet portions extending laterally outward from the legs of said catch preventing the withdrawal of said catch from said first lugwhile allowing the engagement of the legs of said catch with saidsecond lug.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a forwardly extending head portion of said catch for grasping said'catch.

3. A collapsible shelf structure comprising, in combination, two rectangular frames, hinges pivotally connecting said frames at their edges, at least one shelf pivotally mounted within one of said frames, latching means to secure said frames in extended relation, said latching means consisting of a first M-shaped lug fixed to one frame with the legs of said first lug forming two channels ad jacent to said frame, a second T-shaped lug fixed by its leg to the other frame, a U-shaped catch with both legs of said catch extending slidably through the channels in said first lug so that said catch may be moved to extend the legs of said catch on either side of the leg of said second lug, and feet port-ions extending laterally outward from the ends of the legs of said catch preventing the withdrawal of said catch from said first lug while allowing the engagement of the legs of said catch with said second lug, and means to support said frames in a vertical position when said frames are secured by said latching means in an extended relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,454 French's!" Dec. 25, 1877 646,347 Betty Mar. 27, 1900 1,325,107 Olson Dec. 16, 1919 1,453,598 Obele May 1, 1923 2,803,033

Rachman Aug. 20, 1957 

